Date(s) Skied: Sunday, April 17, 2005
Resort or Ski Area: Sugarbush (Mt Ellen)
Conditions: Soft Spring Conditions, Corn Snow, temps in the 60's to 70's
Trip Report: I was given the opportunity to return to Sugarbush North this past weekend for some more great spring skiing. For those that have not been, Mt Ellen (referred to here as "North" or "Sugarbush North") is well endowed for spring skiing because of its exposure, high elevation, lift arrangement and terrain, and snowmaking capacity. Glen House is situated perfectly for great rays, beers, and views of the action on the upper slopes of the mountain.
Ms. Trailboss chose to come with me and she took a while to warm up, but I appreciated her company. During the ride, we looked up at the closed slopes of Lincoln Peak which seemed to still have plenty of cover.
We did a warm up run on Cruiser before heading off to the Summit. The upper runs looked in fine shape...plenty of cover. Our first descent was down Rim Run which was nice (with the exception of the normal spring ice/slush on the opening headwall). After this, we did a great run down North's signature early and late season run Elbow. As is the norm, this run was edge-to-edge with plenty of room for some nice carving. What a great trail!
It wasn't long before Trailboss pointed his skis down Upper FIS, one of the prize expert runs. As you can see, the crowds were hitting it and it was bumped up...a bit too big for Trailboss' liking, but still worth three spins. We did a few more spins on Rim Run, Elbow, and Looking Good before heading to lunch.
I opted to hit another favorite...Exterminator, which was in fantastic shape and not quite as bumpy. This run is another favorite of mine. From here, I hit Northway over to what I thought would be an easy and open Inverness, which had barely enough cover in the morning. Several minutes, four ski removals and hiking sessions, some water and mud later, I made it to lunch having skied something that more closely resembled Invermess!. :roll: I really could not believe that this and Brambles was open...the latter was completely grass at the top. Ms. Trailboss was in hysterics when she saw me finally show up! :lol:
After lunch I opted to throw on my 110's for some great bump runs and adventuring. I hit Black Diamond Rush, which was getting thin fast. It was fun...steep and narrow with again, huge bumps and little margin for error. Both this photo and later this photo don't really do justice. :wink: The last time I had skied this was in 2001 after a huge dump, so I was stoked that I could hit it again.
After hitting this run, with Ms. Trailboss watching, I ventured over to hit Upper Bravo. I decided to duck into the new Bravo Glade on skier's right, which was reminiscent of Burke's Sasqwatch Glade...tight, little room for error, and fun. The cover was still deep....which was exciting and I dumped back out onto Bravo just above the headwall, which was barely skiable.
From here, it was a few more runs down Upper FIS, and the blues before we headed back to the bottom. I hit Cliffs, which was in great shape and bumped up before calling it quits.
A great day...nice temps, but a bit too warm making it slushy on the flats and pooling in some areas. One of the few places where an expert can still hit bumps, ski trees, and have a blast this time of year. I accomplished my mission of hitting all the open blacks and even dabbling in some trees... Nothing wrong with that! :wink:
Oh yeah, and HERE are my pics.
Resort or Ski Area: Sugarbush (Mt Ellen)
Conditions: Soft Spring Conditions, Corn Snow, temps in the 60's to 70's
Trip Report: I was given the opportunity to return to Sugarbush North this past weekend for some more great spring skiing. For those that have not been, Mt Ellen (referred to here as "North" or "Sugarbush North") is well endowed for spring skiing because of its exposure, high elevation, lift arrangement and terrain, and snowmaking capacity. Glen House is situated perfectly for great rays, beers, and views of the action on the upper slopes of the mountain.
Ms. Trailboss chose to come with me and she took a while to warm up, but I appreciated her company. During the ride, we looked up at the closed slopes of Lincoln Peak which seemed to still have plenty of cover.
We did a warm up run on Cruiser before heading off to the Summit. The upper runs looked in fine shape...plenty of cover. Our first descent was down Rim Run which was nice (with the exception of the normal spring ice/slush on the opening headwall). After this, we did a great run down North's signature early and late season run Elbow. As is the norm, this run was edge-to-edge with plenty of room for some nice carving. What a great trail!
It wasn't long before Trailboss pointed his skis down Upper FIS, one of the prize expert runs. As you can see, the crowds were hitting it and it was bumped up...a bit too big for Trailboss' liking, but still worth three spins. We did a few more spins on Rim Run, Elbow, and Looking Good before heading to lunch.
I opted to hit another favorite...Exterminator, which was in fantastic shape and not quite as bumpy. This run is another favorite of mine. From here, I hit Northway over to what I thought would be an easy and open Inverness, which had barely enough cover in the morning. Several minutes, four ski removals and hiking sessions, some water and mud later, I made it to lunch having skied something that more closely resembled Invermess!. :roll: I really could not believe that this and Brambles was open...the latter was completely grass at the top.
Ms. Trailboss was in hysterics when she saw me finally show up! :lol: After lunch I opted to throw on my 110's for some great bump runs and adventuring. I hit Black Diamond Rush, which was getting thin fast. It was fun...steep and narrow with again, huge bumps and little margin for error. Both this photo and later this photo don't really do justice. :wink: The last time I had skied this was in 2001 after a huge dump, so I was stoked that I could hit it again.
After hitting this run, with Ms. Trailboss watching, I ventured over to hit Upper Bravo. I decided to duck into the new Bravo Glade on skier's right, which was reminiscent of Burke's Sasqwatch Glade...tight, little room for error, and fun. The cover was still deep....which was exciting and I dumped back out onto Bravo just above the headwall, which was barely skiable.
From here, it was a few more runs down Upper FIS, and the blues before we headed back to the bottom. I hit Cliffs, which was in great shape and bumped up before calling it quits.
A great day...nice temps, but a bit too warm making it slushy on the flats and pooling in some areas. One of the few places where an expert can still hit bumps, ski trees, and have a blast this time of year. I accomplished my mission of hitting all the open blacks and even dabbling in some trees...
Nothing wrong with that! :wink:Oh yeah, and HERE are my pics.
